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The world’s only dedicated football factory

In 1955 Wilson opened the Wilson Football factory in Ada, Ohio to ensure that Wilson footballs would not only be American made, but the highest quality footballs ever produced. To this day, the world leader in football continues to produce all of its footballs right here in America in the world's only dedicated football factory.

In fact, since 1941 every NFL game ball that's appeared in Super Bowl competition has been made at the Wilson Football Factory. That means every Super Bowl touchdown pass caught or extra point kicked has been scored with an American-made football. The quality of the Official NFL Football is a direct result of the professionalism and skilled craftsmanship of the workers in Ada. Whether you cut pants, sew the footballs or turn them right side out, everyone at the Wilson Football Factory shares the goal of producing the highest quality football in the game. That dedication to quality has made Wilson a big part of American football lore.

Quality in Craftsmanship

Producing 4,000 footballs a day and over 700,000 a year, the plant employs 120 people that truly display a pride in craftsmanship. Nothing is automated on the factory floor. Production is done by hand as they cut the highest quality cowhide panels, sew the panels inside out, steam them soft enough to turn, and lace precise enough to throw tight spirals.

The National Football League is the only major sports league whose balls are manufactured in the United States. The footballs get their start on the backs of cows taken from feedlots in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Young, lean steers are preferred over fat dairy cows because the leather is more resistant to stretching. When the cowhides arrive in Ada, they are received from our tannery that treats them with the Wilson exclusive recipe and are stamped with the Wilson 'W' to authenticate our NFL leather.

In addition to the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and all NFL footballs, our factory also manufactures the Official Footballs for the NCAA, 27 high school associations, American Youth Football and countless other leagues.

Super Bowl Game Balls – Leaving a Legacy

Our Ada, Ohio Football Factory workers exemplify all the qualities of a Super Bowl team. Averaging more than 23 years of experience, our employees are passionate and proud to make game footballs for all of the premier events in sports. And we're extremely honored to have made game balls for every Super Bowl that's ever been played.

Moments after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC Championships, workers at the Wilson Football Factory began inscribing a cache of Super Bowl Game Balls with the names of the final two teams. Wilson then couriers game balls to the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers within 24 hours of completion and will ship the kicking balls to the officials in preparation for kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.